Stabilizing device



June 30,1931. F. D. w. SEARING 1,812,174

STABILIZING DEVICE Filed Jan. 6, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hf uw BWI/@,{MW

4&5/ ATTORNEY June 30, l931`. F. D. w. sr-:ARING 1,812,174

STABILIZING DEVICE Filed Jan. s, 195o 2 sheets-sheet 2-v y INVENToR FREoEP/CK D, W 55AM/VG a W @ATTORNEY Patented-June x30,` i@ y "This .invention relaties instabile-ingee-.ries the. .areeiefwhichisgw be Stabilized-r 'vices and more particularly tojs'elf-level-ing .levelled to have'a controlled or dampenediunzit bases .for snpporti-'ngvarious articles, instruments a-ndfurniture-on bodies "exposed y to pitching and rollmg, .one fof thef objects qbeing f'nto.filrnisha structure.orxbaseadaptedto support. some :device practically free of the-rolling' and pitchingV movements 4-of the f body Vwhichcarriesit.;V ,-.Theiinvention is especially lowa'pplicableto r,devices for supporting furniture and-appliancesused by .persons traveling 011-Shplcoarcl\.l

. in the accompanying drawings'- one i :practicable iembodiment iofthe inventionA is illusf l Y it'ionifby'means-of.bolts-M15. There is kshown ylocated upon` ithebarlSa fstrip-offvvoodfl, v 1

Figure 1 'sho-Ws a` longitudinal section l`.of my improved base, the.b-asefjbeingespecially de-f signedlinfthis instance for vsupporting .a chair,

the :latter 'being shown in side elevation; I.

- tratediin Figure 15, the vl'ovve'rportions-ionly of .the chairlegs beingshownto indicate their Y 1 1ture1si1ch vasa-chair,thesetracks;aredisposed f toward -the front, fthe position depend-` ieDtUpOn--thelOCatiOn ofthe center-fof gravity Vofthe-Weight'iobecarr-ied or stabilized. fr

position, and

. f Fig.: 3 :is arseetion talifen: at about l v A25-ofthe linelSl-B-of Fig. 2. i

-A'baseimade"n accordance with' invenytion may *be .designed for-:supporting .any

f vselected article kof furniture' or equipment. j In the illustration vthe base is'designed'to l supportedby the deck or other :floor @fra shi-p,: l

and. to suppoit alstear'nerv Vchai-r, a;conven' tional form ofchair:being-illustratedandfurnished with :ar-pair off front legs.5and" apair` ofgrear. legsp.. .l 'I-he base- .illustrated ycomprises..a` mainfor outerframe preferably formedof channel iron and having side members?? and-fend'memf bersS. In some :instances itrmaybe. desirable engagement with suitable pins 12,.'I3his frame, resting as it -does -On the deck-o1'` yother v permit the portionioff the .frame fwhchgcan yto raise the frame" "from gthellsurfa'ce ,-upon whichitv rests, and 'forfthisypur'.pose.legs 9 are n YshownWhich-.for convenienceYof-,storagefmay be pivotedas at 110 to; brackets 1l dependent from; the side members. 7 thezkf'upperv ends -of the legs v being 'heldy in voplerati-veposition :by

-frame and comprises a longitudinally extendv se. In the strucf ing bar 13 having its frontend rear ends-.114:y V

vv.bentkupffal'i'd' passing over the front ya'n'd'uear :channel bars Stand shown secured-in posi#V and uponthis a stripxof 'flexible imateri'al.i157,V

preferably rubber.- These tWo parts,v lo'andVV `iciislixionedtrack, there fbeing 'onejof these dis-V ably; when-the deviceis itocamrysome struc! Within fthe .main frame there isshown-.an

'11, constitute n'the present 'ifl-lustrationn- I Y 'posedat'learhisideofzthemainframe.y PrefefnV i intermediate frame .--lsofformed' of channel ,supports k is .shown ldependent from the .inte-r- :mediate framefand resting vonth'e'tr-acks :cairy :Iied: by the main-frame. nthe .present-inl y'stance:each of these curved supports comprises- :a u Wooden portion .20 [fastened: toV thek iron, `there being sidevmenibers lSfsand fend members 19, A pair of longitudinallycur'ved sdeim'embers 18, 'which may lconveniently vbe y curvature to; accommodate Vthe ,eeverest rollkinfgfa-nil .pitching of a vessel vWhile at sea." The centers off curvature oif `theqsuppontsfaire, in the-illustration, 'onfa, line disposed toward the frontof thev fralme5and the centers oiffthe rpar-ts 2O are lalso locatedt'forward on4 theframe.. j t. v To prevent j-longitudinal ,.displacementfl-of "the supports they are'provided WithV tapered `VVhobs 22 `preferably?set Widelyv *apart and n Y adapted `to .sink yinto preformed sockets 23 in,y thecushion member .16. y t

i: done bymeans -offvvood screwsz21`. Fhezslipgt .ports are made-suflcientlyxlong and of proper 1 y ends of the bars being bent up and around side rails 13 of the intermediate fra-ine and secured in position as by means of bolts r he construction of these tracks is practically the same as that for the tracks carried by the main frame and embodies strips of wood 27 secured to the cross bars T24, and resting upon the wooden strips 2i', there are also shown rubber cushions 23.

Brackets 30 and 3l are suspended from the front and rear bars of the inner frame for supporting from` and rear legs 5 and (S of the chair.

lVithin the intermediate frame is disposed the inner frame preferably formed of heavy bars or pipe, there being longitudinal bars 32 at the sides, and cross bars at the ends.

The second pair of curved supports are attached to the inner frame. ln the present illustration cross bars 34 are secured, as for instance by bolts 35, to the cross bars "12. rl`he supports are substantially the same in construction as the longitudinally curved supports, and are formed of boards fastened by means of wood screws 37 to the cross pieces 34, and provided with hobs or pins 29 for entering preformed sockets in the cushion of the track carried by the intermediate member.

Soft elastic material, such as the cushions 17 and 28 which face the tracks, when inter-v posed between the curved surfaces of the supports 2O and 36 and the tracks which en-A gage ano roll across them, serves to dampen and modify the relative movement of the parts, and also to prevent free oscillation of the frames associated with these curved supm ports. Curved steadying and guiding plates 56 are car "ied b f the boards for engaging the sides of the track, preferably the metal bars 34.

rlhe vside bars i8 of the intermediate frame carry upstanding posts 38 located in a pre-L determined position in relation tothe center of gravity of the load to be supported. From cach of these posts there extends frontwardly and rearwardly a oord 39 passing over a pulley 40 mounted on the side bar of the main frame, and thence to one end of a coiled spring 4l, the other end being fastened to a pin 42 also carried by the side bar i'. l have demonstrated that the action of a coiled spring on a part which it controls is materially modified by connecting the spring to the part by means of a cord passing around a pulley.

Posts similar to those carried by the intermediate frame are carried by the front and rear members 33 of the inner frame. posts are represented by the reference characters 43 and are preferably located on a line passing through the center of the device. From the posts there extends toward each side a cord 44 passing over a pulley wheel 45 carried by the intermediate member. From thence to one end of a coiled spring 46, the other end of the spring being fastened to a pin 47 carried by the intermediate member.

Suitable safety devices may be employed for preventing` overthrow, such chains 48.

In case additional dampening of the oscillation of the parts is desired, the curved supports, 2O and 36, may be connected by means of cords 49 running over pulleys 50 to coiledsprings 51. The dampening eect of this arrangement may be predetermined by selecting the location of the point of attachment of the -cord 49 to the support relatively to the center of the support, and by selecting the initial tension of the spring.

When tubing is employed for the linner frame its 'weight maybe increased by filling the tubes with some heavy substance, such as sand 52.

When my improved structures are employed for stabilizing -or levelling articles of furniture which are not of a permanent structure in the boat, as for instance when supporting deck chairs, it is often found desirable to remove the chairs from the base and stack them in a well known manner, and to also stack the bases themselves. As the framework is necessarily heavy, I propose mounting at one end of the outer frame rollers to assist those whose duty it is to remove and replace the device.

Vheels 53 are shown mounted on the bent over ends 57 of axles which are shown pivoted to the outer frame, clips 55 being shown secured to the frame part 13 and embracing the axle. rShe eXtreme ends of the bent over portions 57 of the axles rest against the frame part 13 for supporting the weight when the wheels are in the full-line positions shown in the drawings. The axle may be turned and the free ends brought against the frame part 14, as in the dotted line position of Figure 1. The wheels may be maintained in this position by catches 58. By this improved wheel mounting the wheels may be housed safely out of the way after the device has been set up on the deck or after it has been removed to a place of storage.

As the invention is illustrated in connec tion with a deck chair, terms of the deck chair are used in the description of the operationi llien the main frame is supported upon the deck by means of the feet 9, this main frame partakes of the motion of the boat in its rocking and pitching. The chair bearing the weight of the occupant is, however, stabilized by the universal movement occasioned by the tracks rolling under the curved supports, which are disposed in two crosswise directions. l

Assuming that the front end of the main frame in Figure lis lowered by the lowering of thev boat vin that direction, Vthe track representedby the reference'characters'l and 17 rolls under the longitudinally'curved sup- 'y ports 20, this movement being slightly dampened by the cushions .17 and by meansnof the' posts 38 and thev spring connections. At the same 'time the sidewise Vmovement imparted 1 by the boat going down at oneside of the' chair, as for instance at the right-hand side in Fig. 3, the `intermediate frame'rolls under p the transversely curvedsupports 36 Without imparting the VcrossvviseV movement ofthe Vboat to the chair, this relative movement in i thisinstance being also somewhat modifiedV by the cushions 28 and by vmeans of theposts 43 acting through the cords 44 on the springs 1r 46, and bythe cords49 acting on the springs 5i '.lhe posts and `the asscciatedr springs have a tendency to'restore the inner.l

frame `to `initial position infbotli directions. The stabilizing or lself-leveling of thein# ner frame vand ther chair carried thereby is.

largely effected by the Weight of the inner frame, its Weight preventing it `from *partaking of the' movement of the boat. For as l the boat moves in either direction and causes Cli the tracks to roll under the curved supports,

the leverage in the opposite direction becomes greater due to theweight and to the move-y 1 ment of the balance point or center of gravity.f When the innerframe is. hollon7 the leverage`- removing may be regulatedby adding to or from the heavy filling material.k

Although the form of my invention selectedj, I for illustration Vis intended for supporting deck chair, yet 4it is to be understoodA thatV the invention is applicable to' supports for other* articles used on shipboard, and thatvarious changes maybe madeas occasion demands` Within the scope ofthe claims Without de-V parting from the spirit of myL invention.

Having described my invention, I'jclaini and desire t0 secure-by LettersPatent r:

"1. The combination With an outerframe` and-a pair of longitudinally disposed tracks carried thereby, and elastic material facingV the tracks, of an intermediate frame, a pair of longitudinally curved 'supportsdependent therefrom and supportedon the tracks car-y ried by the outer frame, a pair of transversely disposed tracks carried by the intermediate frame, and elastic material facing the tracks, f

an inner frame anda pairlof transversely curved supports dependentv therefromk and` carriedy by the in,-y

supported on the tracks termediate frame. l Y

Y2. .The combinationwith anl Outer frame and a pair of longitudinally disposed tracks carried thereby, and elastic material facingV the tracks, of anv intermediate-frame, a pair of longitudinally curved supports'dependent therefrom and supported on the tracks carried by the outer frame, a pair oftransverselyV 'tudeof the relativemovements."A .f f 4.. The combination .with .an outer aoblong ,frameand a :pair of tracks'c'arried thereby Larrddisposedi longitudinally the'reof", of. .an intermediate ablong' frame, {apair` ofcurved i supports dependent therefrom andA disposed..A

.disposed :tracks carriedfbyfthe .intermediate Vf frame, and elastic material "facing the tracks, anVV inner frame vand a: pairjo-f.. transversely curved supports dependent therefrom vrand supported on. the 'tracks carried by the intermediateframe, y'the elastic: 1material vfacing and the respective curvedv supports.

. 3.Thecombination with an' outer frame vboth pairs of .tracks rserving to dampen gand l Y modify relativefmovement :between the tracks and a pair of longitudinally disposed tracks 7 carried thereby, andYelastic'materialjfacingl the tracks, of anl intermediate iframe, r.afpair V'of*longitudinl'allyi curved supportsdependent; ftlierefrom and suppoite'dy on they tracks .carsv "fried by the .outer.fra\me, a pair o-f transversely. :disposed tracks' 4carried bythe' intermedi-y fate frame, and elastic 'material facing :the

Hacks, lan inner frame and a ipairf oftrans-v movements `between the respective frames land to:restoreequilibrium and `to limit the amplij l i "longitudinally, thereofffand vsuppertedjon the l` tracksv carried bythe outer fname, and'apair 'F11 i i olf tracks. carriedfby the intermediate frame and disposed transversely thereof, an linner oblong .frame and a pair of curved supports dependent therefrom `andl disposed transversely thereof and supported o-n the tracks-xr carried by the intermediate frame, a post up- Y i :i

Standing from theymedian .partof'each side;

of the intermediate frame,a-pulley Wheel'l mounted adjacent each end ofeachf side vof the outer frame, 'an extension spring secured".

yadjacent'Qeach end of yeach side of the outer n "frame, and cords extending from thel posts .and each passing about a pulley Wheel at'one endrof the outer frame and connected to the extension spring'rat the other kendof such frame, and posts upstanding from the median' j f y i part of each end ofthe inner frame, a pulleyrfrv` Wheel mounted adj acent`V thefend vof each endA y i y of the intermediate frame, an extension yspring secured adjacent each end of the ends' of the intermediate framek and cords extend-il i Y ingfrom the posts and each passing about a pulley. at one end of the intermediate frame'by and connected to the extension spring at the other end of such frame.

5. The combination With an outer oblong frame and a pair of tracks carried thereby and disposed longitudinally thereof, of an intermediate oblong frame, a pair of curved supports dependent therefrom and disposed longitudinally thereof and supported on the tracks carried by the outer rame` and a pair of tracks carried by the intermediate frame and disposed transversely thereof an inner oblong frame and a pair of curved supports dependent therefrom and disposed transversely thereof and supported on the tracks carried by the intermediate frame a pulley Wheel mounted on each side of the outer frame, an extension spring also secured to each side of the Outer frame, and cords secured to each side of the intermediate fra-me and passing about the pulley Wheels on the outer frame and connected to the extension springs on such frame, a pulley Wheel mounted on each end of the intermediate frame, an extension spring also secured to the end of the intermediate fra-me and cords secured to each end of the inner frame and passing about the pulleys on the intermediate frame and connected to the extension springs on such frame.

6. In means for stabilizing ships furniture, the combination With a fra-me and a pair of curved supports dependent therefrom, of a second frame, a pair of tracks carried thereby a-nd underlying the curved supports of the first named frame, pulley Wheels mounted on the second frame and extension springs also secured to such frame, and cords secured to the first named fra-me and passing over the pulleys and connected to the extension springs.

Signed at New York, N. Y. this fourth day of January, 1930.

FREDERICK D. W. SEARING. 

